Bassett Named Player of the Year, All-Conference Selections Named
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas - Central Arkansas sophomore forward Camille Bassett was named the Southland Conference Soccer Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and First Team All-Conference for the 2016 regular season, the league announced Tuesday. First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Conference selections were also named prior to the tournament's start on Wednesday in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Bassett is the driving force behind a potent - and undefeated - Bears offense that leads the league in goals (35), goals per game (3.18), points (101, 9.18 avg. per game) and shots (213, 19.36 avg. per game). The 2015 Southland Freshman of the Year also ranks first individually in goals (11, 1.00 per game), points (26; 11 goals, four assists), shots (45, 4.09 per game) and game-winning goals, with four of her 11 season goals against Southland opposition being the game winners. Her performance earned her a decisive spot as a forward on the 2016 All-Conference First Team as well as Forward of the Year designation.
The Bears head coach Jeremy Bishop was named Coach of the Year following Central Arkansas' impressive 2016 season. Bishop's five years at the helm of UCA's program has clearly paid off; the Bears had not finished with a winning record in conference play since 2007. Just two years ago, Central Arkansas was finishing with a 1-9-1 conference record. This year, they became just the fourth team to go undefeated in league play in Southland history.
Freshman of the Year went to defender Shay Johnson of Abilene Christian, who has been a vital contributor to a solid Wildcat team that finished third in conference standings this year. ACU is still ineligible for postseason play until their transition period ends at the conclusion of the 2016-17 athletic seasons. They appear poised to continue their strong performances in the meantime, as they finished with an 8-2-1 conference mark this season. Johnson ranked ninth in the Southland with three goals in eight games played on the season (five games in 14 games overall). Her versatile play helped anchor a back line that ranked fifth in goals against average (1.43 per game, 28 total) in the second-highest number of total minutes played by any conference team.
Freshman forward/midfielder April Trowbridge of Northwestern State made her mark on the Southland this season for the Lady Demons, being named 2016 Newcomer of the Year. Trowbridge came to Natchitoches after a season with Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. There, she was a member of Nova Scotia's team in the Canada Games and one of the youngest players in the senior women's program with the Canadian National Team. She is tied for fifth with 46 shots (2.61 avg. per game) and netted six goals in all competition. She enters the tournament with the No. 3 Lady Demons, making their first tournament appearance since 2008.
Abilene Christian's defense received more recognition, with senior Kelsie Roberts earning Defender of the Year honors. The two-time 2016 Southland Defensive Player of the Week leads a back line that is third in conference shutouts (five in 11 games).
Junior Hanna Barker from Stephen F. Austin was named Midfielder of the Year for her contributions to a well-rounded Ladyjack attack. She continued her stellar career, being named Second Team All-Conference in 2015 and Freshman of the Year in 2014. Barker ranks second in the conference in shots (34) and is tied for second in total points (seven goals, seven assists). She is also tied for first place with seven assists in 11 conference games on the season, and has three game-winning goals to her name.
Alex Latham of Northwestern State wrapped up the individual awards with Goalkeeper of the Year honors. The junior shot-stopper has been a vital part of the Lady Demon defense, ranking first in the conference in save percentage (.887; 71 saves, nine goals allowed). The nine goals allowed is tied for third-best in the conference, and Latham also ranks third in goals against average (0.79; nine goals allowed in nearly 1,028 minutes).
2016 SOUTHLAND SOCCER INDIVIDUAL AWARDS & ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Coach of the Year: Jeremy Bishop, Central Arkansas
Player of the Year: Camille Bassett, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year: Shay Johnson, Abilene Christian
Newcomer of the Year: April Trowbridge, Northwestern State
Defender of the Year: Kelsie Roberts, Abilene Christian
Midfielder of the Year: Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin
Forward of the Year: Camille Bassett, Central Arkansas
Goalkeeper of the Year: Alex Latham, Northwestern State
First Team All-Conference
Kelsie Roberts, Abilene Christian, Defender
Patry Carrion, Northwestern State, Defender
Brooke Dunnigan, Stephen F. Austin, Defender
Hanna Barker, Stephen F. Austin, Midfielder
Amanda Doyle, Stephen F. Austin, Midfielder
Jess Coates, Nicholls, Midfielder
Camille Bassett, Central Arkansas, Forward
Ashley Smith, Central Arkansas, Forward
Breanna Moore, Stephen F. Austin, Forward
Alex Latham, Northwestern State, Goalkeeper
Gabi D'Alesandro, McNeese, At-Large
Second Team All-Conference
Stacia Carroll, Central Arkansas, Defender
Kristen Ricks, Central Arkansas, Defender
Kelly Ann Craig, Stephen F. Austin, Defender
Chloe Fifer, Abilene Christian, Midfielder
Dayna Mounie, Central Arkansas, Midfielder
Alex Moore, Central Arkansas, Midfielder
Savannah LaRicci, McNeese, Forward
Esdeina Gonzalez, Northwestern State, Forward
Yvette Franco, A&M-Corpus Christi, Forward
Lillie Ehlert, Stephen F. Austin, Goalkeeper
Shelby Wilson, Central Arkansas, At-Large
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Kristi O'Brien, Houston Baptist, Defender
Bailey Bosley, Stephen F. Austin, Defender
Katherine Kelly, Nicholls, Defender
Elizabeth Adams, Houston Baptist, Defender
Bettina Brulhart, McNeese, Midfielder
Allison Abendschein, Houston Baptist, Midfielder
M.J. Eckart, Lamar, Midfielder
Ellee Hall, Houston Baptist, Midfielder
Brooke Erdmann, A&M-Corpus Christi, Forward
Natalie Throneberry, Abilene Christian, Forward
Casey Peacock, Southeastern La., Forward
Gabby Rodriguez, Houston Baptist, Forward
Sydney Newton, Abilene Christian, Goalkeeper